Expert: Nazim Nice - 12/7/2009

Question
Hello dear expert Nazim. I am a student in a 2 years community college that tend to transfer to a 4 years college to pursuit my architecture career. i have an assignment which requires to interview a professional person of my intend career.
could you please include your information such as position, place of employment, e-mail and names? so my professor won't target my work as plagiarism.

1-what kind of architect are you?
2-what college did you go to?
3-how many years of college did you have?
4-when did you decide to become an architect?
5-what kind of tools do you use?
7-do you need to be creative to become architect?
8-do you work at home or somewhere else?
9-is being architect stressful?
10-why did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?
11-what jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?
12-do you usually work independently or as part of a team?
13-would you recommend to someone to become and architect?  

Answer
Hi Mensah,

1-what kind of architect are you?

I primarily focus on residential architecture, but also do some small commercial architecture. I am currently working on a day care and private school, along with about 12 residential projects.

2-what college did you go to?

Carnegie Mellon University

3-how many years of college did you have?

Five

4-when did you decide to become an architect?

I always knew that's what I wanted to do.  In high school I was sure and I had no question when going to college that is what I wanted to do.

5-what kind of tools do you use?

Pen, paper, computer, mouse.  My practice is a mix of digital media and hand drawn sketches.  I have never hand drafted anything in my professional career, although I did learn how in school.

7-do you need to be creative to become architect?

Yes, the best architects are very creative.

8-do you work at home or somewhere else?

I work in an office that I own that is separate from my home.

9-is being architect stressful?

Yes, it can be.  But any job can be.  There is a lot of liability being an architect which can be stressful. Mistakes can be expensive.

10-why did this type of work interest you and how did you get started?

I loved building things as a kid, so I saw architecture as a way to satisfy my need to build things.  I did well in college and then immediately got a position working at NBBJ in Columbus Ohio.  Then I got a teaching job at the Knowlton School of Architecture at OSU. I moved to Seattle in 2000 where I got a job working for a small architecture firm. That's where I learned the most about how to be a good architect.

11-what jobs and experiences have led you to your present position?

My teaching job taught me that I liked designing smaller projects.  Working for a small firm taught me how to run a small practice.  After this is when I started my own practice.

12-do you usually work independently or as part of a team?

A project is always part of a team, including other designers, surveyor, client, contractors.

13-would you recommend to someone to become and architect?

Yes, if it's something you are very interested in doing. It is a satisfying job.

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
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